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It's Not Easy - Making God a Priority

It’s not easy – following God’s plan for your
life. We live in a very busy world that
offers countless distractions. If we’re
not careful, we can quickly allow these distractions to rule our lives and our
marriage relationships.

Although we live in the most advanced age ever with
technical gadgets and toys to satisfy our every whim and make our lives
simpler, life has only become busier, more complicated, and more influenced by
the world. All of this can easily divert
us from our dedication to God.

How many times have you told God that you are going
to make it a habit to talk to Him every day and read His word? You have every intention of digging deeper
into His spiritual realm and becoming the true Christian He desires you to
be. You want “more”. You want to know all of that almighty power
that is available to you. You want to
experience God as you hear others claim to experience Him.

Something always seems to get in the way,
though. It may be as innocent as a sick
child or an exciting project at work.
Maybe unexpected company shows up and intrudes on the routine you had
begun to develop. Much like “sticking to
a diet”, it’s difficult to establish quality time with God. He needs to become a priority and habit that
you refuse to break before He’ll reveal His plan for you.

As I read about my favorite Bible character, Paul, I
long for the simplicity of his life.
Yes, he faced crippling hardships I’m grateful I haven’t known, but he
was able to devote every moment of his life to God’s plan for him. That is why he said it is better for a man
not to marry. Paul got rid of every
distraction in his life that might interfere with God’s plan.

Sometimes, a marriage relationship, good or bad, can
become a hindrance to a relationship with God.
Or is it the other way around for you?
Maybe your lack of a relationship with God is hindering your marriage,
causing it to crumble. Whatever the
condition of your walk with God or in your marriage, it may be time to slow
down and look at your priorities.

James 1:22-24 says, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not
do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after
looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.”

These verses tell us that we must act on the word of
God, not just listen to it. Too many
Christians feel a false sense of security in going to church every Sunday,
believing that hearing a sermon and worshipping God for a few hours is
sufficient for their Christian walk. You
can’t know the word and apply it to your life in only a few hours on Sunday
morning. You need to study it every day
and do what it says regardless of how foreign it may feel to the ways of the
world you’re familiar with.

James 1:25 – “But
the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and
continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it – he will
be blessed in what he does.”

God will bless you and your marriage for spending
time with Him and for knowing His word and acting on it. We find freedom in His law and a wonderful
code to live by. Make spending time with
God a habit for you, a priority that you will soon discover affects every other
area of your life. You will quickly see
how lost you’ve been without His daily influence in your life.

A healthy relationship with God and with your spouse
goes hand in hand. When your
relationship with God becomes aligned correctly, you will notice wonderful
changes in your marriage.

God can’t share the marvelous plan He has for you
and your marriage until you make Him a priority in your life.

Resurrection Power for Marriage - 365 Day Devotional

My latest book available in ebook format. www.sandeelester.com

"In a world where fifty percent of marriages will fail, GPS to a Joyful Marriage is an excellent tool for Christians seeking to improve or restore their marriage. Sandee writes in a way that is humorous, honest and insightful as her wisdom comes directly from the healing of her own marriage. A practical book that provides biblically based techniques on how to build a healthy marriage." Suzanne Accardo, M.Ed. Certified Life Coach